Spring brush control for carpet sweepers



April 8, 1947. F. w. PULLEN I SPRING BRUSH CONTROL FOR CARPET SWEEPERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 7780 n Pal/en Original Filed Feb. 1943 ATTORNEYS.

April 8, 1947. w, PULLEN 2,418,725

SPRING BRUSH CONTROL FOR CARPET SWEEPERS Original Filed Feb. 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z5 71' -4. 4 2/ f mmllL/z Z3 4 I?) 16 I h I I l 7' INVENTOR.

' Fred W FLU/Q0 ATTORN E Y Patented Apr. 8, 1.947

SPRING BRUSH CONTROL FOR CARPET SWEEPERS Fred W. Pullen, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Bissell Carpet Sweeper Company, Grand Rapids, Mich a corporation of Michigan Substituted for forfeited application Serial No.

475,509, February 11, 1943.

This application October 4, 194.6, Serial N0. 701,257

- 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in spring brush control for carpet sweepers.

The main objects of the invention are:

First, to provide a carpet sweeper in which the brush is automatically adapted to varying lengths or depths of nap of carpets or rugs on which the carpet sweeper is used.

Second, to provide a structure in which the brush is automatically adjusted to the proper sweeping position on the nap without regard to the degree in which the wheels of the sweeper may be pressed into the nap.

Third, to provide a carpet sweeper in which the rotary brush is yieldingly urged to the carpet and at the same time one in which the spring biasing stress remains approximately constant throughout the range of vertical movement of the brush relative to the floor wheels of the sweeper.

Fourth, to provide a sweeper embodying these advantages which is economical to manufacture and very durable in structure.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary end elevation, with parts in section, of a carpet sweeper embodying my invention showing the parts in normal or inactive position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevation showing the parts in an intermediate sweeping position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevation showing the parts with the casing in its lowest position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line t-4 of Fig. 6 with certain parts shown in dotted lines and in relation to a deep nap carpet.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view partially in vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing details of the relation of the floor wheels to the casing in the embodiment illustrated.

I Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary View partially in-horizontal section on line 6-45 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing details of the mounting of one of the brush journal members and the relationship of the brush biasing springs thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown only oneend of the structure but it will be understood that the parts are duplicated on the other end of the structure. Further, certain parts are shown conventionally, and only such parts are deunderstanding of a practical commercial embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the case or casin I may be of any suitable structure or design and is provided with fioor wheels 2 having a floating axle 3 which is disposed longitudinally through the housing 4, see Fig. 5. g

The bowed spring 6 is mounted intermediate its ends on the bracket 1 carried by the end bar 8 extending from side to side of the sweeper. The ends of the spring 6 are connected to the thrust arms H. These arms extend from the bearing members 38, this mounting and biasing 'of the floor wheels being substantially as shown in certain prior patents issued to the applicant.

Therotary brush 9 is provided with a pulley i8 associated with the floor wheels to be driven thereby. This brush is mounted for vertical floating movement, the journal ll of the brush being provided with a slide l2 mounted on the slideway 0n the end bar 8. This slideway comprises a slideway plate 13 having inwardly offset edge portions it which coact with the bar in providing opposed siideways l5, see Figs. 6 and '7.

The journal member slide is provided with flanges l6 terminating in inturned edges H which engage the slideways E5. The plate i3 is provided with out-turned stops it at its lower end preventing the journal slide from becoming disengaged from the slideways.

The brush journal member is urged yieldingly downward by means of the rod springs i9 which are disposed on the inner sides of the bar 8 and secured adjacent the ends thereof.

This securing means comprises the ears 2|] struck inwardly from the bar 8 which are engaged by downturned ends 2! on the springs, the springs being passed beneath the cars 22 also struck inwardly from the bar, which ears constitute fulcrum members for the springs. The inner ends of these springs are arranged through holes 23 in the flanges of the journal slide member l2, see Fig. 6, this engagement permitting a freesli'ding movement of the springs in the openings 23.

It will be noted that the springs are arranged in a substantially horizontal position and that their inner or flexed ends have very little movement throughout the'full range of movement of the brush and floor wheels relative to each other.

The floor is indicated at 24 and the different positions of the casing, floor wheels and brush are shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4., a carpet or rug 25 having a deep nap being illustrated in Fig. 4. 9 In this figure the wheels are shown as substantially embedded in the nap, substantially as would occur in practice, depending of course upon the amount of thrust that is placed upon the casing by the operator.

It will be .noted that the inner ends of the springs are not greatly flexed throughout this range of movement. The springs are of such length and they are so mounted that the biasing stress thereof on the brush does not vary greatly or, in other words, remains substantially the same throughout the range of vertical movement of the brush relative to the other parts of the structure. The result is that springs suitable to secure the proper sweeping action are readily pro vided and this proper sweeping action is maintained whether the sweeper is used on a floor or on a carpet or rug having a deep nap, the resistance of the nap being such as to cause the brush to properly travel on and brush or sweep the surface of the nap. This is of great importance in that it prevents undue sweeping or brush action on delicate rug or rugs having long or deep nap, and this without regard of care or skill used by the operator.

One of the main advantages of the floating spring biased axles in-the embodiment illustrated is to prevent chattering on the return stroke of the sweeper. This application is a substitute for the applicants forfeited application Serial No. 475,509, filed February 11, 1943, the claims being the claims which were allowed in such prior application.

Applicant directs attention to his application for patent Serial No. 658,496, filed March 30, 1946,

directed to an adaptation of the invention of this application, particularly in the mounting of the brush control springs; his application Serial No. 658,497, filed March 30, 1946, to a further embodiment or modification of the present invention relating to the brush control spring and its mounting; and his application Serial No. 658,498, filed March 30, 1946, directed to another form or embodiment in the matter of brush control spring and its mounting.

I have illustrated and described my invention in what I consider to be a very practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe certain other embodiments or adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a carpet sweeper, the combination with a casing and floor wheels, of a brush provided with a pulley associated with said floor wheels to be driven thereby an end bar extending substantially the entire width of the sweeper and disposed at the outer side of said floor wheels and pulley, a slideway plate having inwardly oifset vertical edges mounted on the inner side of said bar to coact therewith in providing oppositely facing vertical slideways, a journal for said brush pro- ,having their outer ends secured to said end bar adjacent the ends thereof, said journal slide hav- 4 ing opposed holes in its flanges with which the inher ends of said springs are slidably engaged, the springs being of such length that the biasing stress thereof on the brush is not greatly varied throughout the range of vertical movement of the brush.

2. In a carpet sweeper, the combination with a casing and floor wheels provided with spring biased floating axles, of a brush provided with a pulley associated with said floor wheels to be driven thereby, an end bar extending substantially the entire width of the sweeper and disposed at the outer side of said floor wheels and pulley, a slideway plate having inwardly offset vertical edges mounted on the inner side of said bar to coact therewith in providing oppositely facing vertical slideways, a journal for said brush provided with a slide having flanges embracing the edges of said slideway plate, said journal being fixedly secured to said slide substantially equidistant from said edges of said slideway to eliminate binding action of said slide on said slideway, said flanges having inturned edges coacting with said slideways, said slideway plate havin stops for said slide at its lower end, and elongated rod springs disposed horizontally on the inner side of said end bar and having their outer ends secured to said end bar adajcent the ends thereof and their inner ends engaged with said slide to yieldingly retain the same against upward movement.

3. In a carpet sweeper, the combination with a casing and floor wheels provided with spring biased floating axles, of a brush provided with a pulley associated with said floor wheels to be driven thereby, an end bar extending substan- V tially the entire width of the sweeper and-disposed at the outer side of said floor wheels and pulley, a slideway plate having inwardly offset vertical edges mounted on the inner side of said bar to coact therewith in providing oppositely facing vertical slideways, a journal for said brush provided with a slide having flanges embracing the edges of said slideway plate, said journal being fixedly secured to said slide substantially equidistant from said edges of said slideway to eliminate binding action of said slide on said slideway, said flanges having inturned edges coacting with said slideways, and elongated rod springs disposed horizontally on the inner side of said end bar and having their outer ends secured to said end bar adjacent the ends thereof and their inner ends engaged with said slide to yieldingly retain the same against upward movement.

4. In a carpet sweeper, the combination with a casing and floor Wheels, of a brush provided with a pulley associated with said floor wheels to be driven thereby, an end bar disposed at the outer side of said floor wheels and pulley and provided with a vertical slideway, a journal for said brush provided with a slide member coacting with said slideway, and elongated springs disposed horizontally on the inner side of said end bar and having their outer ends secured thereto by inwardly projecting perforated lugs struck from said bar, the outer ends of said springs having bent-over end portions engaging within said perforated lugs, the inner ends of said springs being slidably engaged with said slide member, the springs being of such length and so positioned that the stress thereon is not greatly varied by the changing of the horizontal relationship of the floor wheels and brush.

5. In a carpet sweeper, the combination with a casing and floor wheels, of a brush provided with a pulley operatively associated with said floor wheels, an end member, a slideway on said end member, a journal member for said brush mounted on said slideway for vertical movement, and elongated springs disposed horizontally on said end member and having their outer ends secured thereto and their inner ends slidably engaged with said journal member on the opposite sides thereof, the springs being disposed in substantially the horizontal plane of said brush member and with their inner ends oppositely engaged with said slide member and being of such length that the biasing stress thereof on the brush is approximately constant throughout the vertical movement of the brush.

6. In a carpet sweeper, the combination with a casing and floor wheels, of a brush provided with a pulley operatively associated with said floor wheels, an end member, a slideway plate having inwardly ofiset vertical edges mounted on the inner side of said member to coact therewith in providing oppositely facing vertical slideways, a journal member for said brush provided with a slide having flanges with inturned edges embracing the edges of the slideway plate, and a rod spring engaging said end member and said FRED W. PULLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,166,977 Smith July 25, 1939 2,228,528 Miller Jan. 14, 1941 2,057,181 Bloom Oct. 13, 1936 

